Jon Heyman of CBS Sports suggests second baseman Robinson Cano and the Yankees are far apart on terms of a contract extension, making it increasingly likely that Cano will head into free agency after the season.
Heyman writes:
They may well talk, but it remains uncertain whether they have anything to talk about — making free agency a very likely outcome for the Yankees’ star second baseman at this point.
That doesn’t mean he won’t end up with the Yankees — word from other players is that the Yankees remain by far and away Cano’s preference, no surprise — it just means there’s a very good chance he won’t have a new deal with anyone until at least November or perhaps later.
Cano is earning $15 million this year, the second of two option years that were part of the four-year $30 million contract he signed in February 2008 to avoid arbitration. Most estimates have him earning in the neighborhood of $200 million. He will turn 31 in October, meaning his contract will take him through most of his late-30’s.
